Grader

ABSTRACT

This specification discloses an asphalt spreader and general grader for use in combination with a hydraulic system provided by a tractor comprising a movable spreading surface or blade supported on a pair of rollers. The movable spreading and grading blade is adjustable as to its width, its level, and its angle of attack. The orientation and adjustment is accomplished by means of a hydraulic system comprised of hydraulic rams, which are operatively connected to a hydraulic unit or pump that can be provided on a tractor or other traction means. The entire unit can be kept clean by a diesel oil rinse on the rollers as well as other locations. This is provided by a single diesel tank and electric pump connected to a line with a spray nozzle operated at will by the tractor operator.

United States Patent SantA ata Au 26 1975 1 GRADER 7 Inventor: Patrick J. SantAgata, 5745 E. "f"?* Stem Hampton way Fresno, Calif 93727 Assistant ExammerSteven Hawkins [22] Filed: June 13, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT Appl. No.: 478,847

This specification discloses an asphalt spreader and general grader for use in combination with a hydraulic system provided by a tractor comprising a movable spreading surface or blade supported on a pair of rollers. The movable spreading and grading blade is ad justable as to its width, its level, and its angle of attack. The orientation and adjustment is accomplished by means of a hydraulic system comprised of hydraulic rams, which are operatively connected to a hydraulic unit or pump that can be provided on a tractor or other traction means. The entire unit can be kept clean by a diesel oil rinse on the rollers as well as other locations. This is provided by a single diesel tank and electric pump connected to a line with a spray nozzle operated at will by the tractor operator.

8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures GRADER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION utilized various modes of separate motor power as well as large integral units that have not only integral motor power, but also the ability to mix and handle the material to be spread integrally within the system.

Recently, it has been popular to spread or grade by means of a spreader, which is towed behind a tractor. During such a towing operation, the spreader is oriented at different directions and heights by means of manually articulated devices. Specifically, there have been cranks that drive threaded helical rods in and out and tend to guide the outer edges or blades inwardly and outwardly with respect to their position. This affords the ability to place the outer blades which provide the boundary edges at different locations with respect to the width of the asphalt that is to be spread.

Additionally, there are various modes of raising and lowering the blade level, so that the material is graded or spread to a particular depth by means of the height adjustment of the blade. This is accomplished by a vertical adjustment attached to the wheels.

There are various other types of pavement finishing machines, graders, and screeders operating on tracks as well as other means to provide a smooth and level screed of cementitious asphalt or other types of material. Some of them rely upon motor power provided by a tractor, or in some cases have an integral motor means that drives rollers and other portions of the system.

It is also known that various apparatus can apply asphalt on a paved surface through a simple means that can be attached to the front of a tractor in the form of a hopper having a slot to allow the depositing of the asphalt or cementitious material. Such machines utilize a pushing action in order to screed the asphalt or cementitious material in front of them.

All of the foregoing elements and apparatus of the prior art have substantial drawbacks, inasmuch as some require the use of various heavy duty equipment. Additionally, those that do not require the use of heavy duty equipment must function in a manner whereby they can only be adjusted by stopping the entire device and manually changing the level and the width ofthe spread that is to be provided. In addition to the foregoing drawbacks, the devices do not enable one to push as well as pull material. This is a drawback, inasmuch as it detracts from the forward and backward movement that should be utilized for a proper spreading or grading effect. i

ln contradistinction to the foregoing, this invention utilizes a dynamically hydraulically adjustable system that can be constantly maintained at its optimum position for spreading asphalt. In particular, the level of the screed can be adjusted at any particular moment in time by means of a single operator from adrivers seat of a tractor. Additionally thereto, the width of the screed can be changed by an operator so that the width of the asphalt which is being spread can vary with respect to widening and narrowing conditions as well as curves or other areas where asphalt is to be spread to different widths.

The invention can also be used in many dirt base and spreading operations to move, fill, and level the dirt surface. This operation is now done by one immovable scraper behind a tractor.

All the foregoing features will become apparent in the following specification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In summation, this invention provides a novel means of spreading asphalt or grading other types of material with a dynamic adjustment of the height and width of the material as it is spread.

I More specifically, the invention incorporates a screed or spreader having rollers or wheels at its outer extremities which support a blade that moves laterally inwardly and outwardly by means of a hydraulic ram system. The blade provides an adjustable width to the screed by having outer longitudinal blade members which are in a longitudinal direction in which the screed is to be made. The longitudinally oriented blades curtail the outward movement of the material to be spread and maintains it in a straight and steady pattern.

The entire adjustment movement is provided by a hydraulic ram system which enables the outward and inward movement of the overlapping lateral blades. The height of the screed is maintained by a vertical hydraulic ram system which is connected to two axles attached to two cylinders. The two cylinders allow the entire apparatus to move forwardly thereon while at the same time supporting the apparatus in a broad based manner, across the asphalt or other material with a substantial spreading of the load.

The foregoing hydraulic operation is enhanced by virtue of the fact that the angle of attack of the blade can be oriented in a variable manner to provide for various types of screed orientations on the material to be spread. Also, the main blade which has laterally inwardly and outwardly moving blades, is provided with a back blade which can shove material in different di rections.

All the foregoing features enable this device to move in a functional manner for maximizing the spread of asphalt or other material to be screeded or graded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the description below taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view from the rear of the grader of this invention as it is attached to a tractor;

FIG. 2 shows a side elevation sectional view of the grader of this invention as sectioned along lines 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a partially fragmented top plan view of the grader of this invention along lines 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a frontal elevation view of this invention in the direction of lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a sectioned view of this invention through the circle 5-5 of FIG. 2 which details the leading edge of the blade,

FIG. 6 shows a detailed sectional view through circle 6 of FIG. 2; and,

FIG. 7 shows a change in the angle of attack of the blade from that shown in FIG. 1 wherein the blade has been angled from its normal angular relationship.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Looking more particularly at the Figures, it can be seen in FIG. 1 that a tractor 10 has been shown. The tractor 10 has wheels 12 and 14 in the rear for providing traction. As will be understood, any kind of traction means can be utilized to pull the apparatus of this invention. The tractor shown is a normal tractor having front wheels, a steering wheel and an engine.

In particular, the tractor has a hydraulic system which has not been shown in detail, but for purposes of this description has been connected to the apparatus by hose fittings.

Looking more particularly at the apparatus, a screeder apparatus 16 is shown supported on a pair of drums or rollers 18 and 20. The drums 18 and 20 can be made of rolled steel. The reason for the relatively large size of the drums 18 and 20, is to provide a substantial spreading of the load across the material which is to be screeded. This effectuates a smoother movement of the screeding apparatus 16 so that there is not a substantial gouging or removal of the material that has been laid down as the apparatus is moved thereacross.

The apparatus 16 is attached to the tractor by means of a pull bar 24 that is attached to the tractor by a pin 26. The pull bar 24 is a horizontal member which can be linked by a pin 28 to a vertical member 30 of the apparatus 16. The vertical member or pivot bar 30 is connected to a second horizontal bar 32 which orients a main blade 29 of the device in a manner to be expanded upon.

The blade 29 swivels at a pivot point 36 to allow it to move so that a different angle of attack can be provided thereto, depending upon the orientation that is desired of the blade. This is accomplished by a hydraulic ram system which will be expanded upon. I

Looking more particularly at the remaining figures, it can be seen that the horizontal bar 24 which connects and links the apparatus to the tractor passes through an upright platform member 70. The upright platform member 70 is in the form of an upstanding portion of an inverted T on a base 72 with supporting ribs 74 thereunder.

A series of quick disconnect lines 80 and 82 are shown. The lines 80 and 82 facilitate the connection of the hydraulic lines to the tractor 10 for purposes of providing hydraulic fluid under pressure to the various operative portions of the apparatus.

An electric fuel pump 84 is shown for purposes of providing diesel fuel to a hose and spray nozzel so that other portions of the apparatus can be cleaned by diesel fuel from the tank 76.

The hydraulic couplings 80 and 82 are connected to respective hydraulic rams 86 and 88 which serve the fiJnction of raising the main blade 29 on its axles 92 and 94 attached to the drums l8 and 20. The axles 92 and 94 on the drums are connected to frame members 96 and 98 which are in turn driven by the rams, respectively 86 and 88. This serves to effectuate movement of the blade 29 upwardly and downwardly for purposes of respectively allowing more or less asphalt to be screeded by the blade.

The blade 29 is divided along the length thereof into two portions which slide over each other inwardly and outwardly along a break line 91. The blade 29 has a cutting edge 100 which is secured by means of bolts or screws 102 to the blade. The blades move inwardly and outwardly in a lateral manner and are driven by means of horizontal rams 104 and 106. The horizontal rams 104 and 106 each drive the respective end portions 108 and 109 of the blades in order to spread them apart.

The vertical hydraulic rams 86 and 88 serve the function of raising and lowering the blade 29 and are served by hydraulic lines 110 and 112. Also, a hydraulic line 114 leads to the respective horizontal rams 104 and 106 for serving them for purposes of actuation.

The foregoing assembly joined to the tractor 10 by the bar 32 is oriented with respect to its angle of attack by means of a ram conformation. The ram conformation is fundamentally a static bar linked to the bar 32. The static bar 140 is complemented on the opposite side by a ram 142 that is provided with hydraulic fluid through lines 146. The ram 142 is linked to the tractor by means of a connector bar 148 and the static bar 140 is also linked by a similar bar 150. However, as can be appreciated, the static bar 140 does not move. Rather, the ram 142 is the moving element, so as to provide a linkage that will move inwardly and outwardly and change the angle of attack of the blade 29 as shown in FIG. 7

The blade 29 is connected to a backing blade 160. This serves to permit the backing up of the tractor for purposes of moving asphalt from high points to low points behind the tractor as well as screeding and spreading it on the front surface of the blade 29.

The main blade 29, as previously stated, is comprised of two blades held by a brace along the entire length. The brace 180 can be a tubular member which supports the entire blade structure. Additionally, there are roller bearings 182 that support the movable blades 184 thereon by means of an L shaped channel member 186. The L shaped channel member 186 overrides roller bearings 182 and allows it to move inwardly and outwardly with respect thereto. The L shaped structure 186 is supported on the structural member 180 by means of a second L shaped member 188 secured to the upper portion of the structural member 180.

The entire cutting edge 100 can be changed by means of screw fittings 102 which secure the blade 29 to a bottom trailing member 190 upon.which the blade 29 lies. The trailing member 190 serves the function of not only supporting the cutting edge 100 but also lends strength to the entire structure of the apparatus.

The entire apparatus 16 can be moved in any direction by means of the hydraulic rams so that the angle of attack, height, and width, can be changed. In addition to the foregoing, it can be appreciated that the movement of the blades 29 inwardly and outwardly allows for a different dynamic orientation at any given time of the width of the spread. This is accomplished by side walls or longitudinal blades 200 and 202. The blades 200 and 202 serve to support the end members which of course, includes the hydraulic cylinder structures l8 and 20 with their respective angles.

The longitudinal wall or blade members 200 and 202, which in effect serve the function of longitudinally oriented boundary walls, function to change the character of the screed as to its width. Thus, when the rams 104 and 106 move inwardly and outwardly, they change the interior dimensions between the blades 200 and 202 to accommodate various widths of screeds for asphalt to be laid down. It should be noted that the blades 200 and 202 also provide a smooth normal side screed:

Thus, the width, height and depth of the asphalt, as

well as the angle of attack and other orientation elements can all be controlled from the hydraulic source of the tractor 10. As a consequence, any tractor or traction power having a source of hydraulic pressure, as well as the capability of pulling the apparatus 16, can be utilized to cause the apparatus to function properly.

As a consequence, the inventive combination ofa hydraulic system of a tractor or tractor only, as well as the hydraulic screeder or grader 16, is to be broadly interpreted and read in light of the following claims without any restrictions as to the specification hereinbefore provided.

I claim:

1. The combination of a traction device and a spreading apparatus comprising:

a spreading apparatus having a pair of spreading blades which axially move across each other to provide a leading main blade surface thereof which can be moved inwardly and outwardly for changing the axial length thereof and the attendant width of its spreading capability;

a hydraulic ram attached to said blades for opera tively moving said pair of blades inwardly and outwardly with respect to each other;

means connected to said hydraulic ram and said traction device to operatively drive said ram by a hydraulic source of pressure from said traction device;

a second pair of boundary edge blades each connected to the ends of said first pair of blades which provide the outer extremities and boundaries to the material being spread by the spreading apparatus;

drums connected to said apparatus for supporting said apparatus as it is being pulled by said traction device; and,

a second hydraulic ram system connected to said first pair of blades and said drums for operatively orienting said blades to the desired level at which said blades are to be moved over the surface of the material it is spreading.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a linkage adapted to connect said traction means to said first blades in a variable angular manner for purposes of changing the angle of attack of said first pair of blades from the direction of the traction means.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein said linkage for changing the angle of attack comprises:

a hydraulic ram attached to said first pair of blades;

and,

a stationary linkage that is fixed as to its length connected to said first pair of blades and said traction device so that as said ram moves, it forms a variable angle of attack of said first blades with respect to the fixed linkage.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 3 further comprising:

a means for supplying diesel fuel to the respective rollers to free residue from the surfaces thereof.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 4 further comprising:

a tank for supplying diesel fuel to the relative moving surfaces of said first blades to remove asphalt residue.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a single blade on the trailing surface of said apparatus for purposes of moving asphalt when the traction device which said apparatus is attached to is moved in the direction opposite from said first pair of blades.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said first pair of blades are supported in an overlying manner in a channel by roller bearings so that they can operatively move in a lateral manner inwardly and outwardly along said channel.

8. The combination as claimed in claim 7 further comprising:

a flattened surface between the first pair of blades and said trailing single blade for purposes of providing a relatively planar surface between said first blades and said trailing blade for purposes of smoothing material which is being screeded by said combination. 

1. The combination of a traction device and a spreading apparatus comprising: a spreading apparatus having a pair of spreading blades which axially move across each other to provide a leading main blade surface thereof which can be moved inwardly and outwardly for changing the axial length thereof and the attendant width of its Spreading capability; a hydraulic ram attached to said blades for operatively moving said pair of blades inwardly and outwardly with respect to each other; means connected to said hydraulic ram and said traction device to operatively drive said ram by a hydraulic source of pressure from said traction device; a second pair of boundary edge blades each connected to the ends of said first pair of blades which provide the outer extremities and boundaries to the material being spread by the spreading apparatus; drums connected to said apparatus for supporting said apparatus as it is being pulled by said traction device; and, a second hydraulic ram system connected to said first pair of blades and said drums for operatively orienting said blades to the desired level at which said blades are to be moved over the surface of the material it is spreading.
 2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: a linkage adapted to connect said traction means to said first blades in a variable angular manner for purposes of changing the angle of attack of said first pair of blades from the direction of the traction means.
 3. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein said linkage for changing the angle of attack comprises: a hydraulic ram attached to said first pair of blades; and, a stationary linkage that is fixed as to its length connected to said first pair of blades and said traction device so that as said ram moves, it forms a variable angle of attack of said first blades with respect to the fixed linkage.
 4. The combination as claimed in claim 3 further comprising: a means for supplying diesel fuel to the respective rollers to free residue from the surfaces thereof.
 5. The combination as claimed in claim 4 further comprising: a tank for supplying diesel fuel to the relative moving surfaces of said first blades to remove asphalt residue.
 6. The combination as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: a single blade on the trailing surface of said apparatus for purposes of moving asphalt when the traction device which said apparatus is attached to is moved in the direction opposite from said first pair of blades.
 7. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said first pair of blades are supported in an overlying manner in a channel by roller bearings so that they can operatively move in a lateral manner inwardly and outwardly along said channel.
 8. The combination as claimed in claim 7 further comprising: a flattened surface between the first pair of blades and said trailing single blade for purposes of providing a relatively planar surface between said first blades and said trailing blade for purposes of smoothing material which is being screeded by said combination. 